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Lambert's frustration at ref over Stoke defeat

Norwich City's manger Paul Lambert looks dejected at the end of the Barclays Premier League match at the Britannia Stadium, Stoke On Trent Photo: Barrington Coombs/PA Wire

Norwich manager Paul Lambert expressed his frustration after seeing his side go down 1-0 at Stoke thanks to a goal that came from a throw-in he felt the hosts should not have been awarded.

The winner came in the 72nd minute when Potters substitute Cameron Jerome headed a throw-in - which replays suggested should have been given to the Canaries instead - on to Matthew Etherington, who touched the ball past Elliott Ward before beating John Ruddy at the near post.

Stoke City's goal scorer Matthew Etherington and Norwich City's keeper John Ruddy shake hand at the end of the game Credit: Barrington Coombs/PA Wire

It appeared as if Stoke had won the throw only after referee Michael Oliver had been overruled by his assistant, and a fuming Lambert said: "I think it was our throw.

"He (Oliver) is walking away as if he has given it to us, and he actually raises his hand a little bit as if it is a Norwich throw, and then the linesman has overruled him for some reason.

"Our lads think it is our throw, we are out of possession and then we lose a bad goal. I think it was there for everybody to see that it was a Norwich throw.

"He (Oliver) did admit it to me in the tunnel that he was going to give it to us, but the linesman has overruled him.

It is frustrating. We never had many chances in the game and never really got going with any fluency.

This is a really hard place to come - you have to combat that aerial threat, which I thought the lads had done really well. But the throw-in changed the game.

– Norwich City manager, Paul Lambert

The goal broke the stubborn resistance Norwich had put up for most of the game, Stoke having done virtually all the pressing but unable to convert the few opportunities that came their way, with Ruddy making saves to deny Jon Walters, Dean Whitehead and Peter Crouch in the first half.

"We defended really strongly, as we knew we would have to," Lambert said.

"The lads did great defending-wise, but there were never many clear-cut chances for ourselves.

"But that throw-in is ours."

Asked about the throw-in incident, Potters boss Tony Pulis said: "I haven't seen it, but if that (what Lambert said) is right and we got a little bit of luck, then I think we have deserved it with our overall performance."

Pulis, whose side move up to eighth in the Barclays Premier League with Norwichslipping to 10th, was forced to substitute Andy Wilkinson for Jermaine Pennant in the 25th minute and said it was unclear yet what the problem was with the defender.

"We are not sure whether or not it is his hamstring - it might be his back," Pulis said.

"He might have just dislodged his back a little, which then caused his hamstring to get tight. But you can't afford to take a chance.

"We put Jermaine on and he did smashing. The two of them - him and Ryan Shotton - were very good on the right side."